Winding and setting mechanism for watches

ABSTRACT

Winding and setting mechanism for watch movements, characterized by a drive pinion rigidly connected with the stem, by a sliding crown wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the center of the movement and cooperating with the ratchet wheel for the winding of the drive spring, and by a setting wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the periphery of the movement. The crown wheel has a circular opening engaged on a fixed pivot element of circular shape and of a diameter less than that of said opening, and it is held in engagement with the drive pinion by a portion of a bridge which extends trangentially to its toothing.

3,827,235 Aug. 6, 1974 58/67 1/1910 Mehl et 58/67 870,109 ll/l907 Kuhn............ 946,906

[ 1 WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES [75 Inventor:

f Betflach Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Swltzer and Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & [73] Assignee: Ebavches Bettlach S.A., Bettlach, MOShr Switzerland [57] ABSTRACT Winding and setting mechanism for watch movements,

22 Filed: June 18, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 370,672

characterized by a drive pinion rigidly connected with the stem, by a sliding crown wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the center of the movement and Foreign Application Priority Data cooperating with the ratchet wheel for the winding of the drive spring, and by a setting wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the periphery of the move- June 30, I972 Switzerland...l....................

52 us. 58/67 51 Int. 0041 27/02 crown ,Wheel has a C91 Openmg [58] Field of 58/63-72 gaged fixed W element of clrcular Shape and of a diameter less than that of said opening, and it is held in engagement with the drive pinion by a portion [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS of a bridge which extends trangentially to its toothing.

5 7 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 523,l69 7/1894 Mills..............

PATENTED Am: 1 14 SHEET 1 BF 3 mom p N9.

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PATENTEDAUG 61974 sum 2 OF 3 WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM F WATCHES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Winding and setting mechanisms are already known in which the clutch pinion is provided with two opposing crown toothings and is fastened on the stem. The toothing facing the center of the movement meshes with one of the toothings of a ratchet-driving runner when the stem is in winding position, while the other toothing comes into engagement with the setting wheel located in the vicinity of the periphery of the movement when the stem is brought into the outer position. In these known constructions, the ratchet-driving runner is formed of several parts and has a unidirectional clutch. It is located on the inside of the movement between the pillar plate and one of the bridges. It is furthermore known that automatic winding watch movements are in general provided with an ordinary winding and setting mechanism which, however, in addition comprises a device for the unclutching of the crown wheel so as to prevent the clutch pinion and the stem from being driven in rotation when the automatic winding mechanism actuates the ratchet wheel of the barrel. Some of these unclutching devices comprise a sliding crown wheel which can move in its plane while remaining in engagement with the winding pinion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention provides a winding and setting mechanism for watch movements which is of a quite simple construction and the mounting of which is rapid and can be simply effected. The mechanism of this invention nevertheless assures the functions of an ordinary mechanism, that is to say, permits manual winding when the stem is, in an inner position and setting when the stem is in outer position.

For'this purpose, the winding and setting mechanism for watch movements in accordance with the invention is characterized by a drive pinion which is rigidly connected with the stem, by a sliding crown wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the center of the movement and cooperating with the winding ratchet wheel of the drive spring, and by a setting wheel mounted between the drive pinion and the periphery of the movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows by way of example one embodiment of the mechanism in accordance with the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the axis of the stem;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line lII-Ill of FIG. I; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views along the lines IVIV and V-V, respectively, of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The main elements of the winding and setting mechanism shown in the drawing can be noted from FIG. 2. In this figure there can be seen a part of the pillar plate 1 of a watch movement and, above this plate, the barrel bridge 2 and the cock 3. Between these elements of the frame there are arranged the elements of the winding mechanism, that is to say, a stem 4 which constitutes the inner part of a drive device of the so-called broken stem type, the different parts of which will be described further below, a sliding crown wheel 5, a setting wheel 6 and a spring plate 7 which assures the positioning of the stem in the axial direction and at the same time serves as a click spring, as will be seen further below. The cock 3 is fastened on the pillar plate 1 by a pillar 8 and a screw 38 (FIG. 5) in accordance with an ordinary arrangement; the same is true of the barrel bridge 2, the fastening pillar 9 being combined with the pivoting device of the click it). The latter acts on the ratchet wheel 11. The cock 3 is located at a level slightly below that of the barrel bridge 2. Between the cock and the pillar plate, on the one hand, and between the barrel bridge and the pillar plate, on the other, are arranged two out plates which assure the spacing apart of these frame elements and constitute an outer support bracket 12 and an inner support bracket 13. These two out plates, visible in plan view in FIGS. 3 and 4, are provided with protrusions in their upper portions and their lower portions; the protrusion 14, which is arranged at the upper portion of the inner bracket 13, is of square cross section (FIG. 1). The upper part of this protrusion penetrates into an opening provided in the barrel bridge 2 and, at its lower end, this protrusion connects with a flat portion of the plate 13 which forms two shoulders 15 and 16. These shoulders support a crown core 17 which is a cutout part of circular shape having a small flat collar at its base and at its center a circular hub engaged within the opening of the sliding crown wheel 5. The diameter of the opening of the wheel 5 is greater than that of the surface of the core 17, and the crown wheel can move laterally in accordance with the forces to which it is subjected. The hub of the part 17 forms at its upper end a slight annular protrusion extending slightly higher than the level of the crown wheel 5 and resting against the lower face of the bridge 2. In this way the crown wheel is mounted with a clearance which can be adjusted and which permits it not only to turn but also to move laterally. The bracket 13 also has an elongated opening 13 in which the pivot-shaped end 18 of the stem 4 engages.

The outer bracket 12 (FIG. 4), which is also cut from a metal plate, is fixed between the cock 3 and the pillar plate 1 by protrusions 19, 20 and 21. One of the cutouts of this plate provides a clearance below the lower face of the cock 3 in which there is engaged a hook-shaped portion present on the elastic plate 7. This portion 22 assures the hooking of the plate 7 which moreover has an open annular portion 23 located around the pillar 8 on a groove in said pillar. Thus the plate 7 is fastened below the frame element 3 along a plane parallel to the movement in such a manner that the lateral tongue 24 which it presents at approximately the middle of its length and which is slightly bent downward engages in one or the other of two notches 25 and 26 of open V shape which are cut in the stem 4. In this way the tongue 24 assures the positioning of the stem in the axial direction. The spring plate 7 also has a long arm 27 which extends in the direction of the pillar 9 and which rests against a portion of the click-stop 10. The latter (FIG. 1) is also cut out from a metal plate, with a nose 28 which is engaged in the toothing of the ratchet wheel 11 and with a bearing element 29 which bears directly on the toothing of the wheel 11 so as to lock it. When this wheel is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the click-stop is lifted, cocking the arm 27, while, as soon as the ratchet wheel is released, the torque which is imparted to it by the drive spring tends to turn it in the other direction and reengages the nose 28 in its toothing so as to bring the click-stop back into the position shown in the drawing, which is a locking position.

It is seen (FIG. 2) that the pillar plate has a first cutout 31 for the engagement of a portion of the winding pinion, which will be described below, and an opening 32 in which there is force-fitted the end of a pivot post 33 provided with a flat head which assures the pivoting of the setting wheel 6. The latter is housed in the hollow 31 which, as stated previously, is provided at a place to permit the passage of the winding pinion.

The winding pinion 34 which has just been mentioned is integral with the stem 4. Its toothing may be out directly upon the manufacture of the stern so that it forms a single piece with the latter. The pinion 34 is in the vicinity of the two grooves 25 and 26 on the inner side (FIG. 2). Beyond this pinion there extends a cylindrical surface which comes to a flat shoulder from where the pivot 18 protrudes.

On the outer side, to complete the description of the stem 4, it will be noted that the stem has a second cylin' drical surface which follows towards the outside, the two grooves 25 and 26, and then the elements of a clutch designated by 35 at an outer part of the stem. The arrangement of the mechanism applies the use of a broken-stem system comprising the inner stem 4 housed within the movement upon the mounting of the latter and an outer stem (not shown) mounted on the case, bearing the crown and which engages with the inner stem upon the placing in the case. This arrangement, which is common in mono-shell cases and makes it possible to easily assure a good sealing of the stem, is well known and has already been used in numerous conventional movements.

In the construction described, the setting wheel 6 is mounted on the outer face of the pillar plate 1. It is in engagement with an intermediate wheel 36 (FIG. 1) which meshes directly with the minute wheel.

In order to assure the meshing of the crown wheel with the pinion 34 and with the ratchet wheel 11, the bridge 3 has a lateral extension 37, the linear edge of which rests against the toothing of the crown wheel. This linear edge extends tangentially to the crown wheel (FIG. 1) and prevents it from moving in the direction of the axis of the stem. Thus the crown wheel remains at all times in engagement with the pinion 34. It engages with or disengages from the ratchet wheel 11 depending on the direction in which the stem 4 is turned. The wheel 5 could also be held by an extension of the barrel bridge which is slightly bent so as to be located at the height of its toothing and which extends tangentially to the latter.

In order to explain the operation of the mechanism which has just been described, reference may be had to FIGS. 1 and 2. In these two figures the mechanism is shown in winding position, that is to say, the stem 4 is in its inner position. The pinion 34 is in engagement with the sliding crown wheel 5 which is also in engagement with the ratchet wheel 11. The clickstop assures the blocking of said last-mentioned wheel. In the axial direction, the stern IS held In place by the tongue 24 which is engaged in the outer groove 25. If, in this position, the stem is turned around its axis so that the crown wheel is driven in counter-clockwise direction, the meshing of the toothing of the pinion 34 in the toothing of the crown wheel and the meshing of the latter in the toothing of the ratchet wheel assures the transmission of a moment of rotation and the ratchet wheel is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, lifting the click-stop, which causes the winding of the drive spring. As soon as the stem is released, the ratchet wheel has a tendency to turn in the direction opposite the arrow 30, but the click-stop 10 returns to its locking position, as explained above.

Because of the presence of the click-stop 10, the ratchet wheel 11 will not turnin a direction opposite that of arrow 30. Thus if the crown wheel 5 is turned in a clockwise direction by means of the stem, the portion of its toothing which engages the ratchet wheel 11 pushes against an immovable wheel; the central opening of the crown wheel moves on the core 17 by the action of the toothing of the pinion 34 pushing back that of the wheel 5 so as to cause a disengagement of the two. Thus in this direction, the rotation of the stem has no effect on the ratchet wheel.

In order to bring the stem into setting position, it is sufiicient to pull it outward. The tongue 24 then passes from the groove 25 to the groove 26 and again assures the positioning of the stem. By this outward displacement, the pinion toothing 34 moves away from the toothing of the crown wheel 5 and meshes in the setting wheel 6. In this position, any rotation imparted to the stem drives the setting wheel, the intermediate wheel 36, the minute wheel and, therefore, the hands in the corresponding direction.

Thus with this extremely simplified mechanism, all the functions of a normal winding and setting mechanism are fulfilled.

It will also be noted that the various parts of this mechanism are very simple to produce and can be easily assembled. In particular, there are no screws to put in place, which considerably simplifies the mounting. The number of parts of the mechanism is very small. It comprises seven parts less than an ordinary mechanism, the parts which it has been possible to eliminate being the setting lever, the yoke, the setting-lever spring, the yoke spring, the setting-lever screw, the winding pinion and the clutch pinion.

It will also be noted that in another embodiment, the parts 13 and 12 which constitute the elements of the brackets could also be replaced by millings provided in the pillar plate and in the bridge, the latter being made in the form of thick parts and not in the form of fiat parts, as in the embodiment which has been described.

A final simplification is obtained by the fact that the inner bracket is held in place by the barrel bridge, while the outer bracket is held in place by another element of the frame, in the present case the cock 3. This arrangement also facilitates assembly since, upon the putting in place of the barrel bridge, it is sufficient to be certain to place the inner bracket with the crown core and the crown wheel, but the stern proper, as well as the click spring, can be put in place upon the mounting of the cock.

What is claimed is:

l. A winding and setting mechanism for watch movements, comprising:

a watch stem mounted for rotational and sliding movement, the latter between first and second axially displaced positions;

a drive pinion rigidly connected with said stem;

a ratchet wheel coupled to a drive spring and mounted for rotation to wind said spring and store energy therein;

a setting wheel mounted for rotation and coupled to the time indicating means of said watch movement for setting same, said setting wheel being mounted for rotation between the outer periphery of said watch movement and said drive pinion;

a rotatable crown wheel; and

mounting means located between said drive pinion and the center of the watch movement, mounting said crown wheel for rotational and sliding movement, the latter between first and second positions, perpendicularly displaced with respect to the axis of said crown wheel;

said crown wheel engaging said ratchet wheel in said first position and being spaced apart from said ratchet wheel in said second position; and

said axially displaced positions of the watch stem being such that in said first axial position said drive pinion engages said crown wheel whereas in said second axial position said drive pinion engages said setting wheel.

2. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixed pivot element of circular shape, said crown wheel having a circular opening engaged with said fixed pivot element, said crown wheel opening having a larger diameter than said pivot element; and a bridge member extending tangentially to said crown wheel for maintaining said crown wheel in engagement with said pivot member.

3. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said crown wheel is supported by a core housed below said bridge member, said core having a circular bearing surface on which the crown wheel pivots and a collar for supporting said crown wheel.

4. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising first and second support brackets mounted on a base plate of said mechanism.

'5. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said first bracket has a hole to receive a pivot portion of the stem and a rectangular protrusion on which the crown core is fastened, said protrusion being engaged in an opening of the bridge member.

6. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said second bracket has protrusions engaged in openings in the base plate in a further bridge member and a guiding cutout through which the stem passes.

7. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising: a click-stop member engaging said ratchet wheel; and a spring plate mounted on said movement and having a tongue for axially positioning said stem in said first and second positions and an arm engaging said click-stop member.

8. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said spring plate is fixed to one of said brackets and to a pillar connecting a further bridge member to said base plate.

9. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said first bracket is fastened between the first bridge member and the base plate, the second bracket is fastened between the further bridge member and the base plate and the crown wheel is held in engagement with the drive pinion by a portion of the further bridge member. 

1. A winding and setting mechanism for watch movements, comprising: a watch stem mounted for rotational and sliding movement, the latter between first and second axially displaced positions; a drive pinion rigidly connected with said stem; a ratchet wheel coupled to a drive spring and mounted for rotation to wind said spring and store energy therein; a setting wheel mounted for rotation and coupled to the time indicating means of said watch movement for setting same, said setting wheel being mounted for rotation between the outer periphery of said watch movement and said drive pinion; a rotatable crown wheel; and mounting means located between said drive pinion and the center of the watch movement, mounting said crown wheel for rotational and sliding movement, the latter between first and second positions, perpendicularly displaced with respect to the axis of said crown wheel; said crown wheel engaging said ratchet wheel in said first position and being spaced apart from said ratchet wheel in said second position; and said axially displaced positions of the watch stem being such that in said first axial position said drive pinion engages said crown wheel whereas in said second axial position said drive pinion engages said setting wheel.
 2. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixed pivot element of circular shape, said crown wheel having a circular opening engaged with said fixed pivot element, said crown wheel opening having a larger diameter than said pivot eLement; and a bridge member extending tangentially to said crown wheel for maintaining said crown wheel in engagement with said pivot member.
 3. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said crown wheel is supported by a core housed below said bridge member, said core having a circular bearing surface on which the crown wheel pivots and a collar for supporting said crown wheel.
 4. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising first and second support brackets mounted on a base plate of said mechanism.
 5. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said first bracket has a hole to receive a pivot portion of the stem and a rectangular protrusion on which the crown core is fastened, said protrusion being engaged in an opening of the bridge member.
 6. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said second bracket has protrusions engaged in openings in the base plate in a further bridge member and a guiding cutout through which the stem passes.
 7. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising: a click-stop member engaging said ratchet wheel; and a spring plate mounted on said movement and having a tongue for axially positioning said stem in said first and second positions and an arm engaging said click-stop member.
 8. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said spring plate is fixed to one of said brackets and to a pillar connecting a further bridge member to said base plate.
 9. A winding and setting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said first bracket is fastened between the first bridge member and the base plate, the second bracket is fastened between the further bridge member and the base plate and the crown wheel is held in engagement with the drive pinion by a portion of the further bridge member. 